The AIA Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture recognize architects in the public and private sectors, public officials, or other individuals who design distinguished public facilities or advocate for design excellence. 2020 Thomas Jefferson Award recipient, Rona Rothenberg, FAIA, offers her reflections on what it means to receive this honor.
When I went to see the musical “Hamilton,” I was delighted by the wonderful upbeat and dynamic music and choreography. I was surprised that the historical story told through the unforgettable and clever musical theatre is still relevant and timely today. I was particularly taken by the piece “In the Room Where it Happens.” It is about the famous “Compromise of 1790” among Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, about how and when decisions important to the republic would be made, issues concerning time and place and how to act; what to do.
Jefferson was a statesman, but he was also an architect in government. So, to me his contributions reflect upon the importance of architects in government, of government buildings which are enduring, where and how action happens in government and the “big room where it happens” that California is today for our national agenda.
Since I have dedicated my professional career to architecture “from the inside out,” within institutions, this theme speaks to me personally. Working as an architect in government and industry has enabled me to have a voice and an impact on improving citizens’ lives by developing and applying best practices and design excellence principles and standards through a very large and significant body of safe, accessible, beautiful, sustainable, resilient, and lasting buildings which hopefully will serve the public for generations to come.
As an institutional architect throughout these past 19 years in California government, I have advocated for excellent architecture by working with and supporting talent in my fellow architects’ firms of all sizes and locations to produce outstanding public buildings. This happens in many ways but mostly through partnership, trust and sound thinking which has to be cultivated at every level from executive decision-making to guiding often well-meaning and thoughtful but single-minded clients about reconciling their needs and wants to selecting and supporting the most qualified construction talent available for the lowest competitive and fair price. Architects are particularly well suited to all of these challenges.
The experience of influencing decision-making about appropriate sites, workable functional and space programs, what good design means and how to build it, and then facilitating and supporting design and particularly construction has been the most enjoyable to me.
Rona Rothenberg, second from right, in her role as Senior Manager for the Judicial Council of California at the 2013 groundbreaking ceremony for the Santa Clara Family Justice Center in San Jose, with California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye (center) and leaders of the Superior Court.I feel very grateful for my long and continuing career delivering public buildings. I feel so fortunate to have been able to work meaningfully in my chosen field in this way, while sustaining a long marriage, supporting parents and then my children, and now my grandchildren. I have relished the opportunity to give back through excellent architecture and community service, and find myself truly humbled.
To think that my work as an architect in California government has had an impact on the health, welfare and life safety of future generations of Californians, and then to be recognized by my peers for it is truly remarkable. I like to think my efforts demonstrate that the work of architects in government does matter; that our work in California architecture is a “big room” for policy and advocacy for the built environment, and that we should continue to act and advocate so decisions can be made through or work to impact the public good. I hope to continue my work and advocacy through architecture, to build great buildings and to have a great time doing it for as long as I have the vitality.
